In Years Past

March 25, 2014

In 1914, investigation of the bad fire in the Davis building at Ashville the previous night was in progress but the damage done in the rooms where the fire originated was so serious that it was practically impossible to determine the cause. The fire, when discovered, was bursting through the walls and roof and within a few minutes a large volume of flame was shooting through the roof of that part of the block. Ashville was without fire protection and the hastily formed bucket brigade was nearly exhausted and was making little headway toward saving the big building when the first assistance reached them in the form of the chemical engine from Lakewood. The firemen from Lakewood saved the building without question and perhaps prevented a conflagration which might easily have done many times the damage which was done.

Considerable excitement in Jamestown was caused the previous evening when a heavy explosion which shook houses and broke windows occurred near the tracks of the Jamestown, Westfield and Northwestern railway, a short distance from the Chadakoin River, not far from the municipal lighting plant. Several people came rushing to the scene of the explosion but found only a hole in the ground showing the place where it had occurred. A young boy of perhaps 12 years was standing a short distance away. He was taken into the electric light plant by a man who intended to turn him over to the police but the little fellow pleaded his innocence so earnestly that he was allowed to go.

In 1939, Lions Clubs throughout New York state would convene for their 1939 session, in Jamestown June 15-17, according to an announcement made by Manager Charles Laycock of the Jamestown Convention and Visitor's Bureau. John M. Barrett, past president of the local club, was general chairman of the affair. Committee meetings had been held during the past several months perfecting plans for the entertainment of fellow members. unique program had been arranged for the entertainment of some 200 or more Lions and their families, who would visit this city for a three-day stay.

Two Jamestown youths were arrested at Waterboro, S.C. this day in possession of a car owned by Supervisor Coyle A. Boyd, of Clinton Street, Jamestown which was stolen from a parking space near the welfare department headquarters March 21. The two lads were charged by South Carolina authorities with driving without a license, according to a telephone call received by Chief of Police Edwin Nyholm of Jamestown from the sheriff of Collins County, S.C. The South Carolina sheriff told Chief Nyholm that the two had confessed the robbery of a service station at Oil City, Pa., and the burglary of a house at Fairmont, W. Va., enroute south.

In 1964, Mayor Frederick H. Dunn of Jamestown carried to the White House his plea for federal help on public works projects for the city. The mayor conferred at the White House with Henry H. Wilson, Jr., special assistant to President Johnson. Mayor Dunn emphasized Jamestown's continued economic distress and the need for federal help on public works improvements as part of the community development and revitalization program. The Mayor was appealing for approval of federal assistance for the proposed new reservoir which would be built near the present reservoir. Estimated cost of the new 5.5 million-gallon reservoir was $550,000 and the city was seeking half in federal assistance under the Accelerated Public Works Program.

La Giconda restaurant on Central Avenue in Dunkirk, closed for several days, was burglarized some time between Sunday and Tuesday. Joseph Pucciarelli told police 30 porterhouse steaks, two large containers of meatballs and 12 chickens were missing from the refrigerator. Pucciarelli added that an unknown quantity of whisky also was taken. He estimated the value of the foodstuff and beverage at $1,000. Entrance was gained by breaking the glass pane in a 32 by 48 inch window.

In 1989, the black cherry lumber produced in Western New York was probably the best in the world. That took in a lot of territory but it was true of native black cherry trees grown in this area for lumber. This was the opinion of Charles P. Mowatt, associate forester with the Falconer office of the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Mowatt put it quite emphatically, saying, "In Southwestern New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania we have unquestionably the world's best cherry."

Al Tech Specialty Steel Corp. plants in Dunkirk and Watervliet, near Albany were among operations the parent company was considering selling to a South Korean company. James H. Mintun, Jr., Al Tech's president and chief operating officer, said Rio Algom Ltd., of Toronto had signed a letter of intent for the sale of its steelmaking holdings to the Sammi Group of South Korea.